Letters To The Editor – Marine Tech Under Threat
Dear Editor:
Recently the Marine Technology Program at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC, has become a target for elimination due to state budget cuts. This program is unlike any other in that it gives students actual “hands-on” experience at sea with 5 training cruises out to sea before they graduate.
These training cruises teach students how to safely work and live on a boat. This is a field where experience and training is vital not only for success in the workplace, but also for safety. This training is something that can not be replicated, and it is what gets these students jobs.
Over 148 students are currently enrolled in the program, and these students will graduate and go on to get jobs in North Carolina. This means that most of these paychecks are spent in North Carolina. Why cut a program that gets North Carolina residents jobs when the economy is struggling? What happens to these students who have put their lives on hold to get an education in order to get a job?
Taking away this program can only hurt the North Carolina economy as well as the companies that hire these graduates.
If you would like to know what you can do to help, here are the names and email addresses of the delegates in the New Hanover County region: Representative Susi Hamilton at Susi.Hamilton@ncleg.net; Representative Carolyn H. Justice at Carolyn.Justice@ncleg.net; Representative Daniel McComas at Danny.McComas@ncleg.net; Senator Thom Goolsby at Thom.Goolsby@ncleg.net; and NC Senator Bill Rabon at Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net.
If you are not from New Hanover County please go to the following website to see who represents you:
www.ncga.state.nc.us/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html.
Please send them an email or even give them a call and ask them why they are cutting such a unique program that gets North Carolina residents jobs.
Sincerely,
Megan Davis
Current CFCC Marine Technology Student
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